since July 15. Each season is dominated by one or two doshas (Vata, Pitta,
or Kapha), except for this one. Early Autumn is when all of the elements
in the natural world are in transition. Since this is a transitional
season, Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water and earth) are all
out of balance. The elements are moving in the world and in our bodies in
preparation for the Autumn and Early Winter seasons. The heat of Summer is
beginning to accumulate in the natural world outside and in our bodies. As
the trees "burn off" this heat later in the year, their leaves will change
color. As our bodies accumulate the end-of-summer heat, our skin begins to
dry out.
Since all of the doshas are situating themselves in our bodies to prepare for
the colder seasons, we are more vulnerable to disease during this time of the
year. Although the Autumn flu season doesn't begin typically until October
(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2013-2014.htm),
the Ayurvedic view is that our vulnerability to illness depends upon how well
the elements in our bodies establish new equilibrium during the Early Autumn
transition. For this reason, Ayurvedic practitioners recommend cleansing
in the Early Autumn season.
Cleansing eliminates excesses of all three doshas and allows the body to
enter the Autumn season in a balanced state. In my experience, most
cleanses are simply expensive laxatives that don't offer any real benefit, while
cleansing in the Ayurvedic manner boosts the immune system, improves digestion,
and optimizes metabolism. I recommend visiting my Spring Cleanse page to learn more about exactly what an Ayurvedic cleanse entails: http://michelleshealthrevolutionblog.weebly.com/1/post/2013/02/how-do-you-know-when-its-time-to-cleanse.html
If you would like to have a personalized cleansing program designed for you, please contact me: [email protected]